The Progress., 1887-11-26
such condition Of things should
not be allowed to cOntinu

4 not De allowed to commune.
/ It seems to us, that even with
1 the best Of intentions no individ-
uals or body of individuals can
successfully and impartially exer-
else the duties Of judge, jury and
consta bic. As our system now
Islands (iif it can be called: sys-.
temp, upon mere report, and with
out the formality Of complaint
supported by deposition, a person.
can be arrested by the order Of the.
agent, issued to anymember Of the
police and this too verbally. The
arrest accomplished (and it may
have beed effected by any member
of the force whether by the chief,
captain, sergeant or private) tri-
al Of the case follows conducted
by the constabulary metamor-
phosed into the Judiciary. It is
possible to conceive that any one
of them may bring to the bench
a mind judicially impartial, even
though patience has been sorely
tried by pursueing culprit many
hours under hot sun, or pelting
rain or freezeing snow, but it is
more easy to believe that the frail-
ty Of human nature will be. so
manifested as practically to ex-
clude the idea Of fair and impair
tial Judgment. IF the unfortunate
culprit is found guilty, he must
suffer just such penalty as they
may devise. There is no rule of
court processes, no rule Of punish
ment, everything depends upon
the momentary frame Of the ju-
dicial mind. It has been said that
"a mans lord is his stomach,
and if this be true, may it not nat
urally follow that many decision
may be the mere result Of dyspep-
sia, or vulgar qualms of hunger.
! Diplomacy is an art, and the
diplomatic dinner an admirable
invention, therefore if our courts
is to continue in this chaotic con-
dition we have a word Of sugges-
| tion to drop to each individual in
, this community: IF you have been
so unfortunate as to have trans
gressed against your neighbor, or
to have offended the supreme (G)
head, in other words if for cause
or otherwise, you stand in fear Of
being hauled before the powers
that be, yield at once, providing
that within reasonable period
before, there has been Judicial
procession to the dispensary or to
the dinner board. You may then
be assured that dyspepsia and hun.
ger will not be the judges Of your
conduct.
But setting aside this phantasy,
: we believe that ventilation o1
this subject will have the effect
of suggesting remedies to those
whose duty it will be in. the future
t to regulate judicial affairs upon
' reservations.
: The proposed consolidation 0:
e the Chippewas, the allotment o.
: land in severalty (Which should b
in accordance with the treaty 0;
e 1867 and the establishment q
I a preliminary form Of self gov
f ernment-member elected by bal
: lot-for the conducting Of the in
!. ternal affairs Of and the genera
: management of the reservation, 4
t etc., will open new era by which
= we think will be to the best inter
t est of the Indians in general; tht
e latter provision will certainly have
e a tendency towards annihilatine
t tribal relations, and whatever re
: mains Of tribal traditions, as vel
e as in time, render needless the ne
f culiar idea Of paternity in the GOV
] ernment and wardship Of the In
d dian.
: We cannot change The ineyita
}. BILE, nor in our case is there reas OF
g for wishing to do so. It is conce
. ded by our best thinking men thai
7 consolidation and allotment II
t seEeralty is the best possible thiins
4 for the Chippewa nation. Th,
t Government and we are IN practic
f~%(